Depression can have a severe negative impact on many areas of one’s life. Keep reading to learn more about depression and how to overcome it.
Can Depression Just Go Away on Its Own?
Depression can have a severe negative impact on many areas of one’s life, from relationships and self-esteem to professional growth.
So, it’s no surprise that many people with this disorder want to know whether or not the symptoms of depression can go away on their own.
Well, the answer to this question depends on numerous factors, including the type of depressive disorder and its severity.
For some people, depression becomes a big problem, making them unable to perform their regular activities.
However, people with persistent depressive disorder, which is often mistakenly called high-functioning depression, may experience mild symptoms, and be able to cope with their usual responsibilities.
That doesn’t, however, mean that the symptoms disappear.
The good news is that depression is a highly treatable mental health disorder. If you receive proper treatment, the symptoms will ease or go away, and you’ll be able to get back on track quicker.
And if you opt for online depression counseling, you do not need to commute to a therapist’s office.
Unfortunately, many people hesitate to talk to a therapist or refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of depression. The symptoms might worsen if they are not treated properly.
Depression can become debilitating, and it may also lead to suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
Therapy for Depression
Not only is depression treatable, but it can also be treated in different ways.
Talk therapy has proven to be effective when dealing with major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and other types of depression.
Talk therapy enables you to figure out the underlying causes of your symptoms.
Besides, a licensed therapist can suggest effective coping practices that will work in your specific case.
Whenever people visit a therapist, they usually sit and talk — that’s it! Such conversations, however, may look completely different depending on a particular therapist’s formal training and chosen technique.
The most common types of therapy are listed below.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
The main principle behind cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is pretty straightforward.
Many mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, are rooted in unhelpful thinking patterns, which in turn lead to unwanted emotions and behavior.
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to identify and challenge these unhelpful thoughts so that a client can eventually replace them and change their behavior.
Quite often, therapists who practice CBT rely on journaling.
A therapist may ask you to write down your weekly events and your reactions to them. This way, you can understand what factors trigger your unhelpful thoughts.
Besides, CBT may involve some “homework,” including various relaxation exercises, worksheets, and reading materials.
Psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy stems from Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and is basically an evolved version of psychoanalysis.
Psychodynamic therapy aims to identify unresolved inner conflicts (which are usually unconscious) that lead to unwanted emotions and actions.
The conflicts that cause the development of depression and many other mental health issues are often rooted in childhood memories and traumas.
The therapy process requires a client to process a lot of memories and experiences, and therefore it takes more time than in the case of CBT.
Psychodynamic therapy is also generally less focused on a particular issue.
Rather than dealing with a specific problem, it aims to help a client become aware of all of their emotions, including the negative ones and helps them cope with these emotions effectively.
Dialectical behavior therapy
This type of talk therapy has a lot in common with CBT but it also has its distinctive features.
For instance, DBT requires a client to acknowledge and accept their unwanted thoughts and behaviors.
To cope with negative emotions, DBT uses validation.
Besides, DBT relies on various mindfulness practices, meditation, and even coaching. The choice of practices depends on the type of problem.
The general goal is to help a client develop the skills necessary for coping with challenging situations alone.
Interpersonal therapy
As the name suggests, interpersonal therapy focuses on relationships with other people and a client’s social role.
A lack of social support and conflicts can contribute to the development of depression symptoms, and interpersonal therapy addresses such issues.
Usually, therapists choose to focus on one or two problems that should be solved.
Interpersonal therapy usually doesn’t take much time because of its specific objectives.
For example, this type of therapy can be helpful when having relationship problems with family, romantic partners, coworkers, or friends.
Quite often, interpersonal therapy involves roleplay exercises.
A therapist may ask a client to try different social scenarios to train their communication skills.
The ultimate goal is to teach the client to use effective communication strategies so that they can build a reliable social support system.
Self-Care
The duration of therapy and its effectiveness to a large extent depend on the client. You have to put some effort into the treatment process to achieve the desired outcome.
Therefore, if you want to start feeling better sooner, you may also practice self-care.
Mental health disorders, and depression, in particular, may affect many areas of one’s life, messing with sleep, appetite, motivation, and productivity.
Therefore, you can boost the healing process by sticking to a healthy diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
How to Start Therapy for Depression
For many years, people with depression needed to be in the same room with a therapist.
Traditional in-person therapy requires you to not only plan your visits ahead but also have enough time to commute.
People with busy work schedules often find it difficult to make enough time for in-person sessions. Fortunately, online therapy platforms like Calmerry offer a more flexible solution.
With online therapy, you can get matched with a licensed therapist from your state and schedule live video calls or exchange text messages.
This way, you can prioritize your mental health no matter how strict your schedule is and get the necessary help from virtually anywhere.
So, if you experience symptoms of depression, don’t hesitate to ask for help. When left untreated, depression may get worse. Severe depression may lead to dangerous behavior, self-harm, and even suicide.
Please reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline right away if you are thinking about suicide or self-harm.
Image by Victor from Pexels
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